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- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the Eggs and Vanilla:
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg (if using).
- Add Bananas and Sour Cream:
- Mix the mashed bananas and sour cream (or Greek yogurt) into the butter and sugar mixture until well combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in Nuts and Chocolate Chips:
- If using, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans and chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour into Pan:
- Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and spread it out evenly.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top of the bread is browning too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
- Cool:
- Remove the banana bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Conclusion
This classic banana bread is a comforting and versatile recipe that you can enjoy any time of day. Whether you add nuts, chocolate chips, or enjoy it plain, the result is always delicious. Moist, flavorful, and easy to make, this banana bread will quickly become a go-to recipe for using up ripe bananas and satisfying your sweet tooth. Enjoy a slice with a cup of coffee or tea, or as a delightful treat on its own!
